Evaluation of Drug Dose Calculation Ability of Nursing Students: An Interventional Study

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the drug dose calculation ability of nursing students. A pre-post interventional study was conducted among 99 undergraduate nursing students studying in 2 nd year, 3 rd year and 4 th year. Pre-test was conducted using a self-administered 20-item questionnaire on drug dose calculation test followed by a 30 minute lecture on the methods of drug dose calculation. Post-test was conducted using the same questionnaire after a washout period of six weeks. Mean score, standard deviation, frequency and percentage were calculated. Student's t-test, one way ANOVA and McNemar Test were used for statistical analysis using SPSS version 11.5. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Pre-test and post-test mean score (± Standard deviation) were 10.59 ± 3.00 and 15.36 ± 2.46 respectively. There was 45.04% increase in mean score in the post-test after the intervention and it was statistically significant (P-value < 0.05). None of students scored more than 90% of mastery level in the pretest and 42 students (42.4%) scored more than 90% of mastery level in the post-test. The mean score was highest for third year students and lowest for 2 nd year students in both pre-test and post-test; however, it was statistically not significant (P-value>0.05). Drug dose calculation ability of the students was poor in the pre-test and it significantly improved after the intervention. The study findings highlight the need for regular continuing mathematical and drug dose calculation practice among the students.

Effects of Dimensional Analysis on Infusible Medication Calculation Skills Among Nursing Students in an Intensive Care Unit

“…According to research, nursing students are prone to failures in drug dose calculations,15,19 and they experience anxiety when performing mathematical calculations 16. Many deficiencies in drug calculations exist among nursing students during their clinical internship.…”